JAMMU, Nov 5: With the festive season bringing increased shopping activity, attractive discounts, cashback offers and online transactions, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has highlighted five important safety measures to help consumers protect themselves against digital payment fraud.
During festivals, consumers often make quick purchasing decisions to take advantage of limited-period offers and attractive deals. However, cybercriminals frequently exploit this festive rush through fake websites, fraudulent links, misleading cashback offers and social engineering techniques to steal sensitive financial information.
To promote safe digital transactions, NPCI has advised consumers to remain alert and follow five essential precautions.
Consumers should avoid suspicious links and lookalike websites created by fraudsters to steal personal and payment information. It is advisable to access shopping platforms through their official applications or by manually entering their website addresses. Users should also avoid downloading files or opening unknown links claiming to offer festive discounts, greeting cards or special deals, as these may contain harmful software.
Fraudsters sometimes persuade customers to make payments through external UPI IDs or unfamiliar links instead of the official shopping platform. Consumers should always complete transactions through the authorised checkout process and verify the seller’s details before making payments.
Unsolicited messages promising festival gifts, cashback rewards or free vouchers may be attempts to obtain OTPs, bank details or small advance payments. Consumers should remember that genuine promotional offers do not require sharing sensitive banking information or paying unexpected fees. All offers should be verified through official applications or websites.
Messages claiming that a payment has failed or a bank account has been blocked may be used to trick customers into sharing their OTPs. NPCI advises users never to share OTPs with anyone over calls or messages. OTPs are meant only to authenticate transactions initiated by the account holder and should remain confidential.
Scammers often create urgency by claiming that an offer will expire shortly or that an account will be blocked unless immediate action is taken. Consumers should avoid making hurried decisions and verify such claims through official websites, applications or authorised customer support channels.
Emphasising the importance of responsible digital behaviour, NPCI has encouraged users to adopt the ‘Stop, Think, Act’ principle to safeguard their financial transactions.
Under this approach, consumers should stop whenever they receive an unexpected request, think carefully before sharing information or making payments, and act only after verifying the authenticity of the source.
With digital payments becoming an increasingly important part of everyday life, following these simple precautions can help consumers prevent financial fraud, protect sensitive information and enjoy a safer and more secure festive shopping experience.